OT: Conference Realignment

[Portlandian]

Haha yeah I know. Imagine the eyebrows raised though if you didn't notice that little fact.

 

[Pablo]

Sources: MAC to add Sacramento State as football-only member

The MAC presidents have voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

"The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million, per sources, and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days. All in, the total cost of entry is expected to be $23 million, as Sacramento State would also need to pay an additional $5 million to the NCAA to move up."

"The move will keep the MAC at 13 schools. It would replace Northern Illinois, which is leaving for the Mountain West in football next year.

It also marks a trend of schools paying money to move up in leagues. SMU paved the way, as it chose to forgo nine years of television revenue to join the ACC. Cal and Stanford also accepted reduced money to join the ACC.

Sacramento State's move is the second in the last week, as North Dakota State finalized a move to the Mountain West. That move cost $12.5 million. In a smaller scale, Northern Illinois paid a $2 million entrance fee to join the Mountain West.

The payouts to leagues such as the MAC and Mountain West come at a time when revenue is scarce, as smaller leagues are struggling to retain top talent in football and men's basketball since the waiving of transfer rules and the ability of schools to pay players through NIL and revenue share."

"Sacramento State's non-football sports will be housed in the Big West, which it joins in 2026-27."

 

[jessej]

Sources: MAC to add Sacramento State as football-only member

The MAC presidents have voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

.
It also marks a trend of schools paying money to move up in leagues. SMU paved the way, as it chose to forgo nine years of television revenue to join the ACC. Cal and Stanford also accepted reduced money to join the ACC.

Cal, Stanford and SMU had no other options as the other P4 conferences didn't want them. All 3 had weak football and Men's BBall programs - which are the only potential revenue generators. The rich SMU alumni will pay for the AD for the next 10 years so they are back in a conference. ACC took Cal and Stanford as insurance against other schools leaving which would lead to a breakup of the conference.